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Vinny Guadagnino on His MTV Talk Show: 'My Mom's Gonna Be the Star'

The "Jersey Shore" star warns future guests about Uncle Nino's unpredictability and reveals which network talk show host he looks up to.

As fans wave farewell to six seasons of Jersey Shore, Hollywood stars should be getting ready for The Show With Vinny, MTV’s talk show spinoff featuring Shore castmate Vinny Guadagnino. Interviewees will be treated to an informal conversation at his New York home in Staten Island, complete with an authentic Italian meal prepared by his mother Paula and some uncensored (and often indiscernible) comments from Uncle Nino.

“I was really, really excited, mostly because it’s something that I really want to do,” he told reporters at MTV’s “Restore the Shore” fundraiser Thursday night. “I’ve always been more natural at doing hosting things: reading teleprompters, taking direction and asking questions…I’m actually able to perform a little bit.”

“I think that’s perfect for Vinny -- he has that personality and he’s always wanted to do the hosting thing, so I’m really happy for him and hope to see him successful,” Jersey Shore co-star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro said. “And everyone’s grown to love his family.”

The reality television personality has often expressed ambitions of acting and hosting professionally. He takes improv classes during the week and has guest starred on The CW's 90210 and MTV's The Hard Times of RJ Berger.

Guadagnino said his dream guests would be Robert De Niro and Michael Jordan but hopes to bring in the New York Knicks more immediately. As for interviewing former Jersey Shore castmembers, “I’m definitely gonna make that happen, but that’s too easy. They’re like my boys, they’re gonna come over.”

Differentiating himself from fellow talk show hosts, the 25-year-old explained that guests of The Show With Vinny won’t be pre-interviewed by producers and will instead hold a “real conversation” at his family's dinner table.

“It went amazing, got huge, huge talent,” he said of filming the pilot. “I have more jitters for the celebrity of what they’re walking into, because I know how crazy my family is. I have jitters of what my uncle is gonna do to these people, because there’s no filter.”

Guadagnino wanted the show to resemble his normal life as much as possible, which meant including home cooking from his mother and appearances by Nino.

“They already became characters from Jersey Shore, and it organically happened, honestly,” he said. “And it happened to just be TV magic. Uncle Nino has [more than] 50,000 Twitter followers for being on Jersey Shore for two seconds.”

However, he warns female guests to dress appropriately for the interview. “I’m sorry -- I apologize in advance for any rude remarks by my uncle! But everyone’s gonna have a good time.”

Pairing the celebrity conversation with a meal was also an obvious choice, since his family has become accustomed to feeding the Jersey Shore cast and crew in his home throughout the years.

“Come on with an empty stomach because you’re gonna have to eat,” was his advice to future guests. “My house has always been like everyone’s house. You walk in, you’re a part of the family, no matter who you are, what celebrity status you are, everyone is treated the same – with love from my mom.”

He noted that she’s actually a natural onscreen as well. “My mom’s gonna be the biggest star – mark my words right now!”

The Jersey Shore star hopes to call on one specific NBC late-night host for tips and tricks of the talk show trade.

“I look up to Jimmy Fallon," he confessed. "He hosts talk shows as a fan himself, and that’s how I do it. When the celebrities come in, I’m excited that they’re there. It’s not just like a formal, ‘Hey, how are ya?’ It’s like, ‘Dude, what the hell! So happy to see you!’ That’s what Jimmy Fallon does every time. It’s almost like I’m an audience member and I’m just asking the questions for you.”